Derby and Derbyshire handed devolution cash boost

Derby and Derbyshire have received almost £4.5 million, which has been given as an “early investment” as part of devolution negotiations.

Derby City Council has received £2.22 million, while Derbyshire County Council is being given £2.25 million, to support local priorities, such as housing, the environment and skills,

The city council and county council, along with Nottinghamshire County Council and Nottingham City Council, are currently working with the Government on devolution plans, including a package of local powers and funding worth £1.14 billion, from 2024.

If the plans go ahead, it will also mean a new regional mayor.

Speaking about the latest cash award, Councillor Chris Poulter, leader of Derby City Council, said: “We want to make the most of every penny so this can be used to make a real difference to people’s lives, and the approval of these projects is just the start of bringing that to fruition.

“The East Midlands has long been overlooked in terms of funding. This deal can offer Derby and our wider region real opportunities for much needed investment, which we are starting to see already.”

Since August, the councils have developed a more detailed devolution proposal, which includes more information about how it would work in the area.

The proposal was the subject of a public consultation, which ended earlier this month.

The latest funding, which is not dependent on devolution proposals going ahead, is part of £18 million on offer from the Government to the region for investment in different projects supporting local priorities, which relate to housing, the environment, infrastructure, skills, and transport in Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Derby, and Nottingham.

In Derby, £1 million will be used for a new long-term private rental scheme to address homelessness in the city centre and reduce the use of bed and breakfast accommodation for housing.

The scheme will see six new properties purchased in the city, which will be used as a stepping stone for those on their journey to a permanent living situation.

Meanwhile, £1.22 million will support more affordable housing in Derby.
Fifteen new homes will be built at four sites in the city, helping to reduce the shortage of affordable housing in Derby.

The new homes include 10 two-bedroom houses, a three-bedroom bungalow and four, four-bedroom homes.

The county council will use its money for two projects. £750,000 of it will be used for a new cycling and walking route, connecting Markham Vale to the existing cycle route in Staveley.

The remaining £1.5 million will help pay for a new roundabout, which has been created on the A6 at Fairfield, in Buxton, allowing access to housing development land.

Other regeneration and net-zero projects are also in the pipeline, with decisions on these expected soon.

Councillor Barry Lewis, leader of Derbyshire County Council, said: “The approval of these projects is a solid example of the benefits that devolution is bringing to our region.

“These schemes will make a measurable difference to people’s quality of life through opportunities to gain new skills, environmental and health benefits from walking and cycling, better housing and new infrastructure.

“This is the East Midlands levelling up, and finally getting the benefits that we have missed in the past.”

Devolution would mean a new guaranteed funding stream for our region of £38 million a year over a 30-year period.

Covering Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Derby, and Nottingham, the devolved area would cover around 2.2 million people, making it one of the biggest in the country.

The devolution deal includes an extra £16 million for new homes on brownfield land and control over a range of budgets like adult education.

The regional mayor would lead a new combined authority, which would include representatives from existing local councils, with decision-making powers and resources moving from London to the East Midlands.

Local businesses would also have a voice, as well as other organisations.
Devolution would not mean scrapping or merging local councils, which would all continue to exist as they do now and would still be responsible for most public services in the area.

The mayor and combined authority would instead focus on wider issues like transport, regeneration, and employment across both cities and counties.

To find out more, visit the East Midlands Devolution website at https://www.eastmidlandsdevolution.co.uk/.